Improved apparatus for generating and burning vapors of hydrocarbon oils



HENRY R. FOOTE, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR GENERAIING AND BURNING VAPORS 0F HYDROCARBON OILS Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,0%?, dated `September 18, 1866i.

'parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to con struct and use the invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My invention consists in a novel plan or method of generating and combining before ignition the gas or vapor of hydrocarbon oils and hydrogen gas produced by the decomposition ot' steam, and then burning the same for the production of heat, either for generating steam or for any other purpose desired. Y

It also consists in a novel arrangement of devices for accomplishing this result.

A represents a hollow metallic vessel, the form or outline ot' which is shown in Figure 4, and which may be constructed of any suitable form and size. In practice I have used one made of east-iron east in a single piece, of the form here shown. This vessel I term a combined retort and gas-holder,7 it being used for vaporizing the hydrocarbon, and also as a ref ceptacle for receiving and mixing the vapor thus produced with the hydrogen gas, and supplying the gases thus mixed to Athe burners, as hereinafter explained.

A tube, B, serves to supply the vessel A with oil, which occupies the lower and wider part only.

-In the bottom of the vessel A is inserted two or more tubes, f, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper ends of which extend up through the body of the oil in the vessel A, and thus having their upper ends, which are open, communicating withl and supplied by the gases contained in the vessel above the oil. The lower ends ot' these tubes j' are turned up, and terminate in burners, at which point the erated by them under the bottom of the retort A. y

Steam is taken from the boiler of the engine, orfrom an yother source, and conveyed through the pipe a, which isY coiled around the upper portion ot' the vessel A, as shown in Fig. l, and which enters the vessel, as shown in Fig. 2. Just below this coiled pipe a series of burners are arranged in such a manner that the heat produced by them shall keep this coiled pipe a very hot, so that as the steam passes through this pipe o it shall be decomposed and produce hydrogen gas, which passes thence into the reservoir A, where it is mingled with the vapor'ot' the hydrocarbon. In the drawings this series ot' burners for heating the-eoil is represented asa tube, c', connected to the reservoir A by a short tube, e', the slits o across the tube e serving to permitthe escape of the gas, and thus acting as burners, though it is obvious other forms may be used if desired.

In order to expedite the process of the decomposition of the steam in its passage through the heater u., the'flatter is filled with iron iiiings, so as to present to the steam a large amount ot' heated surface.

have an excessive amount ot' carbon, and eani not be burned alone without a strong draft and a large supply of oxygen, and that when burned in the open air a dense black smoke, heavily laden with earbonaoeous matter, is l produced. the addition ot' the hydrogen gas to the vapor produced from the hydrocarbons and the mingling,` and uniting` of the tWo thoroughly, afar more perfect combustion is secured and a very intense heat produced, With a saving of i'uel, and this is the result produced by my invention.

It Will, of course, be understood that a heating apparatus constructed and operatie g on my plan may be used for'any purpose Where heat is desired; but the device here shown is more especially intended for generating steam for operating steam-engines. To use it, it is only necessary to locate it in proper position under the boiler and connect the pipe a with the steam-boiler. 1When first lighted, and before there is any steam in the boiler, it will be obvious that there will be no gas to supply the burners. In that case the burners f under the reservoir will burn the hydrocarbon itself at rst, the vessel A being iilled with it, so that it Will pass out of said tubes and be ignited at their ends. As soon, however, as the oil is vaporized by the heat thus supplied, the supply of loil is lessened and the vapor only burned, and as soon as 4steam is furnished from the boiler the hydrogen `gas is added to the Vaporized oil, and the apparatus is then in Worki n g order.

Having thus described my invention, what I' claim isl. The combined retort and gassholder, constructed substantially as described.

2. The coil of metallic tubing charged with iron iilings, or their equivalent, and the heaters, connected with the gas-holder, for the purpose of generating hydrogen gas by the decomposition of steam, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The tubes at the bottoni of the retort, with supply-pipes elongated so as to extend into the gas-holder, as described.

4. The arrangement of burners connected with the gas-h older, substantiallyas described.

5. The hood attached to the bottom ot the retort, for the purpose of protecting the lower burners, as described.

HENRY R. FOGTE.

Vitnesses H. C. DODGE, J. C. LATnnor. 

